Overview
The Medical Conscience Rights Initiative (MCRI) is a joint effort launched in 2020 by the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI), Alliance Defending Freedom, and Christ Medicus Foundation to promote legislation on the state-level to protect America’s healthcare providers from mandates to perform voluntary procedures in violation of their conscience (e.g., abortion, physician assisted suicide, gender transition surgery, etc.).
MCRI involves a multi-level strategy, including:
Print and digital media campaigns
Education resources
Grassroots coalition building in select states
Direct professional and legal advocacy with state legislators
Hearing testimony provided by coalition partners
Medical conscience rights are rooted in:
Human Dignity
The purpose of medicine to administer life-
affirming care
The medical practitioner's oath to Do No Harm
First Amendment protections of religious conscience and free exercise
A key aspect of MCRI is model legislation that can serve as the foundation for state legislators seeking to take action in this area. Two states — Arkansas and Ohio — have enacted versions of this model legislation. Similar efforts are ongoing in multiple other states.
To learn more, contact RFI by phone: 202-838-7734 or email: crfe@rfi.org.
Articles
Video Campaign
